Other Names
- FRANCES SMITH
The sidewheel steamer BALTIC, formerly known as FRANCES SMITH, met its unfortunate end in a fire on September 5, 1895, at Collingwood, Ontario, on Lake Huron. The vessel, originally built in 1867 by Melancthon Simpson in Owen Sound, Ontario, had dimensions of 182 feet in length, 28 feet in width, and 12 feet in depth. It had a gross tonnage of 1324 tons, with a capacity of 625 gross tons.
At the time of the fire, the BALTIC had been docked at its mooring since 1893 and had not experienced any previous fires in its boiler or elsewhere on board. However, in the middle of the night, the vessel caught fire and burned to the waterline. Despite efforts to extinguish the flames, the damage was extensive, leading to the total loss of the steamer.
Remarkably, there were no reported casualties or loss of life resulting from the fire. Following the incident, a lengthy court case ensued regarding the payment of insurance claims. The case eventually reached the Canadian Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the insurance companies.
The BALTIC was owned by Charles Cameron of Collingwood, operating under the Great Northern Transit Co. It should be noted that there is a discrepancy in the records, as some sources incorrectly state that the fire occurred in 1896.
Prior to the fire, the BALTIC had a history of incidents, including running aground with heavy damage on Higbee Island in Lake Superior in 1885 and again on Clapperton Island in September 1888. The vessel’s engine and machinery were originally from the steamer CLIFTON.
